Mary L. Murrell, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
Mary L. Murrell
FOUND DEAD IN HER BED.
COMMERCIAL HALL THE SCENE OF A GHASTLY FIND.
Body of Miss Mary Murrell of Nebraska City, Neb., Found in Her Room on College Hill.
[Valparaiso Messenger.]
A grewsome discovery was made about 10:30 o'clock Tuesday morning when the dead and decomposed body of Miss Mary L. Murrell, who came here to attend the Normal School, was found in her room on the second floor of Commercial hall.
For several days the occupants of the building had noticed a peculiar odor in the hall, and as it seemed to become more offensive each day it was at last determined to make an investigation. This morning Miss Alma Kreiger, who occupies a room on this floor, commenced a search for the origin of the disagreeable smell and found it to emanate from the room occupied by Miss Murrell.
Receiving no response to a knock on the door and finding it locked Miss Krieger reported the result of her investigation to the manager of the building. The door was forced in and the body of a girl was found on the bed in an advanced stage of decomposition.
Coroner Ketchum was called and ordered the body taken to Lepell's undertaking rooms. It was in such condition that it was impossible to keep it and it was buried in Maplewood cemetery Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. An inquest was held Wednesday.
Miss Murrell came to the hall last Tuesday. She had just arrived that day from her home in Nebraska City, Neb., and being slightly indisposed she kept her room pretty closely and made no acquaintances. She had not yet taken up any work in school and was not enrolled in any classes, and as a consequence her disappearance was not noticed.
On the table in the dead girl's room were a number of letters which she had written, and which were dated Saturday, June 12. One of these were addressed to her parents, and in it she detailed the incidents of her trip and arrival and also stated that she was not feeling very well. She said that she was going to retire soon and that she intended taking some powders to relieve her illness.
From the date of the letters it is evident that Saturday night was her last on earth. An examination of the powders alluded to, several of which were found on a stand, proved that she was a victim of the morphine habit, and it is thought that an over dose of the drub was the cause of her death.
Newspaper: The Westchester Tribune
Date of Publication: June 19, 1897
Volume Number: 14
Issue Number: 10
Page: 1
Column(s): 4
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook